Saturday, September 23, 2017

In the late '40s and early '50s, American Car & Foundry built a large number of 40' boxcars, for a variety of railroads, that used their own roof and/or end designs.Over the last 3 years, I've been working slowly but surely towards offering HO scale resin kits of some of these cars.Our first challenge was getting the ends and roofs created.We are blessed with great drawings of the AC&F proprietary roof, but without good images it was tricky to understand exactly what we were looking at.
This image is the best photo I've found to date;

As you can see, some rather unique stamping was employed to create this roof.
Based upon data gleaned from the articles in the Railway Prototype Cyclopedia, there were 11 roads that chose to have this roof applied to their car orders, resulting in some 4,210 cars on the rails in the '50s.
The AC&F corrugated end was almost as unique in design as the roof.

The circular dimples down the length of the corner post certainly is distinctive.But I do wonder whether or not it really had any real effect.This end was less popular with purchasers, with only 3 roads buying cars with this end applied for a total of 2100 cars on the rails.A far more popular end was the "Carbuilder" end.

The signature element of this end is the distinctive rectangular top corrugation.
This was a more popular end design for AC&F with 11 roads buying cars with this end for a total of 4,910 cars on the rails.Why am I telling you all this?Starting this October at the Chicagoland RPM Yarmouth Model Works will be releasing the first 3 HO scale kits of AC&F 40' boxcars.ACL 24000- 24499

BAR 4000-4499

WIF 200-349

The WIF car will have both the white lettering for the Boxcar red car and the yellow lettering for the green car.All kits will retail for $60.00 USD, and include all the things you've come to expect from Yarmouth Model Works. One piece resin body castings, photoetch running boards, photoetch details, custom decals, and correct trucksThey will then be available for sale through the website right after the October RPM.

Monday, September 18, 2017

The CNR 1929, 40' single sheathed boxcar.This model will be marketed by Ridgehill Scale Models, just as soon as we can get kits to him.Casting this car is taking longer than I'd hoped due to my caster being up to his proverbials in other life stuff, but I know he's trying real hard.

Friday, September 1, 2017

Tempting fate I know!
Yarmouth Model Works intends to release a number of new HO scale resin kits this October at the Chicagoland RPM, in Lisle, IL.
First up;

The ACL O-16-B.
This model is fully done, I just need to write the instructions and get parts cast.

Finally we'll have some of the ACF built 50 ton 40' boxcars.
As you've come to expect all these kits will have one piece body castings, photo etched details, custom decals and trucks.
Expected retail price will $60.00 USD per kit.
There are NO advance reservations, no presales, etc.
All kits will be offered for sale on the website after the RPM
And there are more ACF boxcars coming as well as other kits this coming winter.